Platelet & microparticle PL in thrombotic and bleeding disorders
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot, exploratory study to investigate platelet and microparticle phospholipids in thrombotic and bleeding disorders
IRAS ID
208311
Contact name
Peter Collins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Excessive bleeding and arterial and venous thrombosis are caused by abnormal clotting. Clotting reactions occur on the surface of small cells in the blood called platelets. Small packages of membranes (microparticles) which are released from active platelets and others cells also contribute to clot formation. The membranes of platelets and microparticles consist of fatty molecules known as phospholipids, which bind to clotting factors and are therefore important in controlling the formation of a clot. It is known that when certain phospholipids are present on the outside of the membrane, clotting reactions are enhanced because there is increased binding to clotting factors. Whether there are differences in the species of phospholipids and other fats e.g. cholesterol, in people with bleeding or thrombotic disorders has not previously been investigated. Similarly, the exact fatty molecule composition of microparticle membranes in health and disease has not been established.
Using recently developed assays, this study aims to identify specific species of fatty molecules on the external surface of the platelet and microparticle membranes. Patients with bleeding disorders of unknown cause and those with venous (deep vein thrombosis) and arterial thrombosis (acute coronary syndrome) will be recruited into the study. Their results will be compared with healthy controls. This allows us to investigate whether changes in phospholipids and other fats, differ in bleeding and/or thrombotic disorders which may provide an explanation for their clotting or bleeding disorder.Participants will be recruited from the Acute Thrombosis Service, Haemophilia centre, Cardiology department and workplace advertisements in the University Hospital of Wales. They will be required to provide blood samples at study entry and in patients with arterial or venous thrombosis, up to 6 months of follow-up. The laboratory assays will be performed, analysed and stored in Cardiff University. The study is funded by the British Heart Foundation.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1168
Date of REC Opinion
11 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion